Pearl of Wisdom

'Verily Allah's greatest Name is composed of seventy-three letters, of which Asaf [b. Barkhiyya] had but one, with the utterance of which he caused the earth between himself and Bilqis 's throne to sink until he got hold of the throne, and after which [he caused] the earth to return to its former state faster than the blink of an eye. And we [the Ahl al-Bayt] have seventy-two letters from the greatest Name, and Allah, Blessed and most High, has exclusive possession of one letter of it with Him in His knowledge of the Unseen.'

Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir [as]

Bihar al-Anwar, v. 14, p.. 113, no. 5

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Take counsel in the matters faith demands of you with one who has the following five qualities: intellect, knowledge, experience, good counsel, and precaution. If you find these five things in a person, then make use of them, be resolute and rely on Allah. This will lead you to what is correct.

As for matters of this world which do not pertain to faith, make decisions about them and then do not think about them further. If you do this, you will obtain the blessings of livelihood and the sweetness of obedience.

Knowledge is obtained through consultation. The man of intellect is he who derives new knowledge from consultation, and that guides him to obtain his goal. Consulting a proper counsellor is like reflecting upon the creation of the heavens and the earth and the destruction of both, since the more intense a person's reflection upon these two things, the deeper he penetrates into the seas of the light of gnosis and the more he increases his understanding and certainty.

Do not take counsel from someone when your intellect does not give him any credence, even if he is famous for his discernment and scrupulousness. When you take counsel from someone your heart trusts, do not disagree with what he advises even if it is contrary to what you want. Surely the self combines both acceptance of the truth with what is opposed to it - that is, on receiving other truths which are clearer to him. Allah has said,